8 SECRETS TO GETTING THE PRIMARY SUITE RIGHT

3 days ago
5 min read

CHARLOTTE DESIGNER LISA SHERRY SHARES WHAT MATTERS MOST IN BEDROOM, BATHROOM, AND DRESSING ROOM DESIGN.

APRIL 8, 2026 | CHARLOTTE, NC

Lisa Sherry in white outfit reading a magazine on a bed, next to a large window with green trees outside. Bright room with a calm vibe. — Sweet dreams are made of this. My lake house bedroom is a world apart. I'm excited to share my "bedroom secrets" in today's blog. Read on.

Designing whole homes — from concept to completion, in Charlotte, NC, or afar — is my passion and my profession. I love every square foot, every room, every challenge a project brings.

But the primary bedroom suite… that’s a particular passion. It is the most personal space in the home. It’s where the day begins and ends, where you land, where you reset. It has to feel right in a way that’s hard to define but instantly understood.

My primary bedroom design intuition is highly tuned. I listen closely, read between the lines, and translate how my clients want to live into something tangible, a room that reflects and serves them fully. I love it when, at the primary bedroom reveal, a client says, “It’s so relaxing.” High praise.

At Lisa Sherry Interieurs, every home is custom, so no two primary suites are ever the same. And yet, across projects, certain ideas reappear — a kind of golden thread. These are the elements that shape a primary suite and, in many ways, become the starting point for a beautifully lived life.

Serene primary bedroom with white bedding, beige textural wallpaper, and a decorative light fixture. Two plush swivel chairs near large windows, soft natural light. — You're the first to see it. My latest primary bedroom reveal. Take the whole home tour now.

1. FLOOR PLAN — SEEING THE ROOM WHOLE

The floor plan is where everything begins.

It’s the opportunity to understand the room as a whole, first in my imagination, then through CAD drawings that bring clarity to every decision. Furniture placement, sight lines, how you move through the space, how it connects to the bath, and often the dressing room. It all starts here.

With new builds, especially, I like to be involved early in the architectural process. Partnering with the architect and builder allows me to influence key decisions — window placement, wall configurations, proportions — the foundational moves that make a room feel right.

Once the architecture is set, I focus on how the room lives. Where the bed sits. How you move through the space. How everything flows. When the plan is resolved — when the bones are right — the design begins to take shape.

Bright bedroom with a plush gray bed, white linens, layered pillows, and a white nightstand with flowers. A modern chandelier hangs above. — I love the challenge of selecting the just-right bed for every client. If we can't find it, we create it. This is a LSI custom design for a Charlotte, NC, client.

2. THE BED — CENTER STAGE

The bed is the focal point. It sets the tone for everything that follows.

I favor upholstered beds. They bring softness and presence and immediately shift the feel of the space toward comfort.

A proper foundation matters. A quality mattress and support system are non-negotiable — this is where you spend your nights. If you’re in Charlotte, NC, Dillworth Mattress is a go-to resource. They feel great, of course, and also offer hidden health benefits: natural fibers for hypoallergenic sleeping hours.

Then we dress the bed. I specify beautiful linen programs and often layer in handmade blankets and throws — pieces with craftsmanship and authenticity. Sheets, duvet, decorative pillows, throws — all thoughtfully composed, never overworked.

Brava — the bed is the diva of the space. At Lisa Sherry Interieurs, we get it right.

Bright bedroom with large windows showing autumn trees. A cozy bed and gray chaise with pillows and a throw add calmness to the room. — I love ensemble casts in the bedroom. This Verellen chaise rivals the bed for style and charm.

3. SOFT LANDINGS — PLACES TO JUST BE

Yet, the primary suite is more than a bed.

I love to create additional spaces to land in the primary suite with sumptuous upholstery — a chair, a pair of chairs, a bench at the foot of the bed, sometimes a small sofa or chaise if the space allows. These aren’t decorative add-ons. They’re there to be used.

A reading perch. A spot for coffee. A bench for a robe and slippers. These pieces bring ease and flexibility. They round out the bedroom and make it feel complete.

Elegant bedroom with a gray tufted headboard, white bedding, fluffy rug, glass chandelier, and white nightstand with lamp and flowers. — i Bedside tables and accompanying lamps (or sometimes pendants or sconces) do double duty – aesthetically pleasing and hideaways for all your nighttime essentials.

4. BEDSIDE — SMALL MOVES, BIG IMPACT

Bedside tables paired with the right lighting are quiet workhorses in a well-designed bedroom.

Scale matters. The nightstand needs to relate to the bed and function for real life — a book, water, a charging cable, a tray for jewelry, creams, or scents.

Lighting is just as considered. Sometimes table lamps, sometimes sconces, and even pendants to free the surface. The choice depends on the room, the architecture, and what feels right.

These are daily touchpoints. When they’re resolved — night and day — life is easier.

A rumpled white duvet on a bed in a cozy room with soft lighting. A white armchair and pillow are visible in the blurred background. — A well-made bed is an (intentionally) unmade bed! I love layers and layers of lightly styled details. Light, texture and textiles all shine.

5. LAYERS — TEXTURE, TEXTILES, AND LIGHT CONTROL

I think in layers. Always have.

In the bedroom, layering brings depth without relying on bold moves. Soft rugs ground the space. Upholstery softens it. Bedding adds variation. Nothing feels flat.

Window treatments are essential. I often layer shades with drapery — one for function, one for softness — so the room performs throughout the day.

It’s not about adding more. It’s about building depth, one beautiful decision at a time.

Modern bedroom with a large bed, white bedding, gray headboard, and a stylish chandelier. Art and a bust adorn the minimalist decor. — No rules in my design world, yet whenever possible, I opt for a chandelier in the bedroom. Drama, plus a wonderfully functional light source.

6. OVERHEAD — LOOKING UP

Every cocoon needs light.

When it’s right for the room, I love a chandelier in a primary suite. In the evening, the light plays like starlight — soft, ambient, a little bit romantic.

A strong bed and a well-scaled chandelier create a dialogue in the room — one grounding, one lifting. Choosing the right piece takes intention. A larger scale creates an amazing wow factor, as shown in the bedroom above. We shop with a point of view — and a tape measure.

Minimalist bathroom with a white tub, wooden stool, and floating vanity. A beige-blue rug adds color. Soft lighting creates a calm mood. — Another first look at my latest Charlotte, NC, primary suite reveal. LSI en suite primary bathrooms duplicate a spa experience.

7. THE BATH — A NATURAL EXTENSION

At Lisa Sherry Interieurs, the en suite spa-like bath is a continuation of the bedroom experience.

I think of primary baths as private retreats — calm, functional, and considered. A soaking tub, when space allows, is a luxury I rarely pass up. A separate water closet adds discretion. Good lighting is essential. Soft runners and rugs help define and ground the space.

Material selection carries the experience forward — stone, tile, metal — all chosen to feel tactile and enduring. The goal is continuity, not contrast.

When the transition is seamless, the entire suite feels unified.

Elegant walk-in closet with coral-patterned wallpaper, light wood floor, white island, and beaded chandelier. Soft, serene ambiance. — Dressing room design is a true (and delightful) art. Here, I specified wallpaper in step with the homeowner's sense of fashion and flair. P.S. She loves it!

8. THE DRESSING ROOM — FUNCTION, BEAUTIFULLY DONE

In many of today’s new luxury homes, the walk-in closet has given way to a complete dressing room. I love and embrace the evolution!

What was once a walk-in closet is increasingly becoming a dedicated space — more thoughtful, more refined, more useful. Whether you have an extensive wardrobe or keep your ready-to-wear clean and streamlined, an independent dressing room is a primary bedroom gem.

Thoughtful space planning means room for everything from boots and bags to jeans and jewelry. And, like the lining in a fine blazer, I love to introduce wallpaper in dressing rooms. It’s expressive, fun, and personal. What better place to make a fashion statement?

Cozy bedroom with a neatly made bed, fluffy pillows, and a white comforter. Soft lighting, wall paintings, and a window with sheer curtains. — And so to bed.... Let's close with a peek at my own primary suite bedroom in Charlotte, NC.

Go to your room? Why yes.

The bedroom, the bath, the dressing room — a beautiful constellation and a world apart for my clients. A place to retreat from the day, and to begin again – essential to the beautiful life.